Markus might have been used to it by now, but it still effected him. The savagery of the Orcs would stick in his mind far longer than he'd enjoy. He saw good men that had been merrily drinking the other day now butchered like so much cattle. [i]Hell, not an hour ago the day was bright and sunny, and these men and women were looking forward to getting their pay at the end of the day. Now...[/i] 
He grunted as he hauled the last wounded man on the wagon. He was a burly ex-soldier with a bit of cloth wrapped about his head now. Markus himself could relate. He had to tie a bit of cloth to his head for the wound, though merely for pressure. It looked very much like a headband to him, his thick hair hanging over it. 

He pulled himself up into the Wagon next to Valerie, aching all over and stinging from his wounds. He made sure not to look at her as she checked herself for her own wounds. The bumping of the wagon caused their bodies and heads to sway back and forth lightly as they set off, and he suddenly felt very much in need for a night in a secure location with plenty of ale. 

His arms were crossed and resting on the crest of the wagon's side, Markus' chin atop his arms as he surveyed the forest that slowly became more and more sparse as their altitude rose. Valerie's question caught his ears. "I'm no expert, but I've heard stories." he breathed. "Orcs favor strength. Some tribes send out war parties to test their mettle against whatever they can find, to show they are worth something to their tribe. Sometimes they go out, and try to grab human prisoners to...-" He let that thought slide. "Other times, I believe they're looking for weapons. They can't forged steel well, but we can." 

Another bump in the road, larger than most, brought Markus' attention for him to lift his head and gaze forward. He saw the gates of Hillglen over the treeline. Only another mile, it seemed. He allowed himself a small smile. He'd always liked the town. It was a frontier outpost, and a place where daring miners and adventurous hunters found refuge for a small bit. A few Knights of to slay great beasts also found the place to be a good starting point for rumors of such things. 

The town's wall wasn't very tall. Only a head taller than an Ogre, but they were strong. The walls made of mountain stone, with some sea stone for good effect on the parapets, and the buildings within were a mixture of stone and hardy timber. Inside, a small barracks would be to the left, and further in would be the Tavern dubbed the [i]Orc Ire and Dragonfire[/i] for the adventurers and travelers that flocked there. The Inn would be across the town three streets over. He wasn't entirely certain where these wagons would be heading, however. To see the Marshall perhaps, but he'd not met her before. He believed he recalled it being a her, though.
[@Luminosity]